4 Lessons on Listening to Residents
February 21, 2022
4 Lessons on Listening to Residents
February 21, 2022

As the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University ramps up supports for cities, it is tapping the expertise of innovators like Helsinki’s head of culture and leisure, Tommi Laitio. 

Laitio, who is taking a two-year leave from the city to work as a fellow at the Bloomberg Center, has a wealth of knowledge to share. In less than a decade, he has led the delivery of more than 100 million resident experiences with city government, from book loans to symphony concerts to visits to the city’s swimming pools.

His work has helped transform health, youth programming, and the global view on how city hall can impact the lives—and the wellness—of people. One of the secrets to his success? Listening to residents.

He shares four strategies for listening to residents that have worked for him in Helsinki on the Bloomberg Cities Network.

Upcoming Opportunities

Public Innovators Network

The Public Innovators Network welcomes local government leaders and staff who are committed to using innovation, data, collaboration, and resident engagement to deliver exceptional results for people. It is the premier place to learn from one another and access cutting-edge resources and support from Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Explore & Engage

The Path to Public Innovation Playbook and Toolkit offer comprehensive guidance designed for city leaders and practitioners aiming to build innovation capacity, improve resident outcomes, and promote trust in government. Featuring lessons from i-teams in cities across the globe, the Playbook and Toolkit provide practical frameworks to deliver impact and achieve systems-level transformation.